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Action is in my blood

Bubbly Esha Deol has matured over her seven-year stint in Bollywood, and speaks candidly about her life and the film industry

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

THAT’S ME Esha Deol: ‘I see myself as someone who is definitely part of the rat race. And someone whose dignity is intact.’

She’s fashionably late to a store launch, has stardom’s confidence but no star airs, a cute smile, carries herself well, talks savvy, but giggles as she talks, and finally, sports a twinkle in the eye. She’s the sort of kid that par ents would step back, take one look, and go “Hmmm…” with satisfaction.

Everyone’s been watching Esha Deol, from the time she was seen tailing her mom Hema Malini or acting with her in TV commercials. And when she did decide to step into films, all eyes were on what papa Dharmender would say. And the starlet is still being closely watched. It is not easy coming from a Bollywood star family, after all.

Dressed nattily in black at the launch of the Provogue store for which she is the brand ambassador, Esha hardly comes across as the lean, mean, six-pack-ab action heroine of “Dhoom” or “Dus”. “I don’t think I’ve typecast myself in any particular mould,” she says firmly.“I did a ‘girl interrupted’ kind of role in ‘Ankahee’. Action is in my blood. I enjoy adventure and I love dancing. I would love to play the role of a dancer,” she prattles on, reminding one of the Basanti from “Sholay”.

Yes, I know, I’m also at it — this comparison thing — but it is inescapable. Every time she smiles one is inevitably reminded of the beautiful Hema Malini. Even the infinitesimal flare of the nostrils!

Her next release is an action-thriller “Cash” that’s making news because most of the stars have done their own stunts. “Yes, we were allowed to do it and they were safely done. I did my stunts on wheels…four-wheeler unfortunately, not two,” giggles Esha. She was specially trained at a school in South Africa for the stunts, which had her in 360-degree spins. “It gives you such a rush…I started driving at 13, you know.”

Esha’s been in Bollywood for seven years now since her debut with the forgettable “Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche” and plodding through many other productions till she hit upon films like “Kaal”, “Dus”, “Yuva”, “Just Married” and of course, “Dhoom” that brought her much attention. How does she see herself in these seven years in Bollywood? “I see myself as someone who is definitely part of the rat race. And someone whose dignity is intact. I will not cross my line. I feel bad for many who are doing it. I haven’t gone that extra mile to get a particular part…” she says, speaking about a subject most actresses choose to ignore. “I started in this industry when I was 18, straight off the football field. I was a kachcha nimboo,” she smiles. “I took time to get groomed. I’ve learnt a lot on the job.”At a media interaction, a scribe comments that she has lost weight. “Our industry just squeezes everything out of you,” Esha retorts. “I do rigorous dancing and cardios. I also fluctuate between kickboxing and Odissi classes.”

She is obviously irritated with all the questions being asked about her parents all the time, and even complains “You are asking me the same questions!” Does mom still decide which scripts to say yes to? “We live together. I involve myself in her political career and she in mine,” is the crisp reply. How does she react to the volley of comments on her accent? “I’m proud to have a south Indian accent. That is my mother tongue. I guess to each their own. My mother sustained for so many years with hers. I’m lucky I don’t have a Brit accent at least!” (Ouch!)

In fact she speaks to the photographers mobbing her in Tamil and says she loves coming to Bangalore where she has relatives.Esha has a mature take on her parents’ unconventional relationship: “I’ve grown up a happy kid, accepting a lot of facts. It’s the way it was meant to be.”

Esha is also creating a buzz in Bollywood, doing her first item number in the upcoming movie “Sunday”. “I was never really offered something like this earlier. I thought I could never do Western dancing. But once I opened up, I went full out. I learnt Russian ballet as a kid and that really helped.” On the cards are two other releases “Darling” and “Hijack”. Sister Aahana Deol is scripting a film with Esha in the lead. “She’s chilled out and will take her time,” she says with obvious pride. So is this the film with her mom? “I don’t know if my mom has a role in it!”

BHUMIKA K.

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